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Picture(s) A Day – 31 December 2009

By Parrothead Jeff, on 1 January 2010

31 December 2009 - 48 minutes until the new year

It’s that time of the year again. Time to look back at what was and to look forward at what can be. 2009 has been something of a transition in my life and I’m still undecided on whether this has been for the better or not overall.

I’m on my own again, albeit with good friends. This blog has gained popularity and two great co-authors which I can only think is wonderful. I’ve forged new friendships and kept old ones going strong. This is a good thing. The on my own part is something I think I’d rather change for so many more reasons than the financial benefits. Still, my friends have helped me out and for that I am truly grateful

I’m still gainfully employed which is more than I can say for many of the people out there. The job market is positively dismal for many and my continued employment is a blessing which I do appreciate.

The political and legal landscape has been a bit less than perfect in my eyes, but I’ve also seen a resistance and resilience in the American people which I wasn’t sure still existed and which keeps my hopes up. For every story I see about someone in the current administration grasping for more power to “help the people,” I also see another story calling it out for what it really is. I’ve seen and participated in some decently large protests where people decided it was better to speak out than to watch T.V. All is not lost and the fight will go on.

So what about 2010? What is it that I want? What are my goals?

My first goal is to lose another 100 pounds or so. I’ve lost 50 this year without much trying. Along with the weight loss, I want to get fit. This is going to take some doing and more willpower than I normally exert.

Yes, guns and ammo enter into my plans for 2010 I hope to purchase a concealable pistol and obtain a concealed carry permit. This is something I’ve talked about before but which I’ve put off for different reasons at different times. This year I want to change that. Carrying a firearm is something I believe should be done by all who legally can and who can accept the responsibility that goes with it. Of course, I also want to increase my ammunition stores and get more trigger time than I did in 2009. I want to be really good with my rifles, pistols, and my shotgun.

I’m also going to do what I can to travel much more in 2010. I’ve many friends whom I have not seen in a few years and that really should change With a bit of saving here and there, I should be able to make a few road trips to places like Utah, Arizona, and (only because I have people to see there) California.

As everyone’s probably noticed, 2010 is an election year. I’ll do what I can to see that things change for the better.

And yes, I’m going to keep up with this blog as well I’ll keep doing the picture a day feature whenever possible and I’ll try to get some more non-photographic posts in than I did last year as well.

It’s four minutes until the new year, so I’m going to call it quits for this post.

Once again, thank you all for everything this past year and here’s hoping you have a wonderful, safe, happy, and prosperous new year in 2010

No, I didn’t see the fireworks this year, but I know what to expect I just didn’t want to be out in the freaking freezing cold with 300,000 people on the Strip this year and I wanted to get this post up in the limited time I had.

Maybe next year?

And yeah, 2010 sounds weird to this kid who grew up in the ’80s and thought of the turn of the (last) century as a very long time ago with very little thought of the new century I hoped I’d still be around for